BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-1998-TOYTAC-AFCE

1998 Toyota Tacoma

Based on reports from 358 owners and 5 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
358
Crashes
56
Fires
0
Recalls
5
TSBs
84
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 358 complaints, 56 crashes, 0 fires, and 5 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

spark plug blew out

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
2

leaf spring broke

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

leaf springs shocks crumbled

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Air Bags:frontalHIGH

30 owners reported air bags:frontal issues — failures commonly reported around 139K miles.

!Inspect the Structure:frame And Members:underbody ShieldsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

3
0–30K
7
30–60K
16
60–90K
22
90–120K
28
120–150K
63
150K+

Peak failure range: 150K+ miles (63 reports) • Median: 139K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Air Bags:frontal (30 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Air Bags:frontal30 (8%)
Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields30 (8%)
Structure:body30 (8%)
Structure:frame And Members28 (8%)
Wheels & Tires23 (6%)
Other16 (4%)
Seat Belts14 (4%)
Suspension14 (4%)

1998 Toyota Tacoma: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Air Bags:frontal Issues

Air Bags:frontal complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, with 30 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 139,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 139K-mile mark.

Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields Issues

Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, with 30 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:frame and members:underbody shields-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:body Issues

Structure:body complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, with 30 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:frame And Members Issues

Structure:frame And Members complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:frame and members-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

50
00
19
01
15
02
6
03
4
04
7
05
18
07
32
08
2
09
12
10
8
11
7
12
10
13
11
14
14
15
22
16
15
17
5
18
3
19
4
21
2
22
2
23
1
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $1.20

Recall History (5 recalls)

06E026000Apr 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

06E049000Jul 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

09E012000May 2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

09E025000Jul 2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

98V188000Nov 1998

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STATEMENT REQUIRED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT "...THE ON-OFF SWITCH SHOULD ONLY BEN USED WHEN A MEMBER OF A PASSENGER RISK GROUP IDENTIFIED IN THE REQUEST FORM IN APPENDIX B......IS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEATING POSITION..." IS MIS-STATED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

The worst model year for the Toyota Tacoma is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is body / paint.

1998 Toyota Tacoma vs. Class Average (Small Pickup Trucks 2WD)

This vehicle

358

Class avg

280

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small pickup trucks 2wd vehicles from 1998.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 358 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 5 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Toyota Tacoma Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995
View all Toyota Tacoma years →

1998 Toyota Tacoma: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Toyota Tacoma?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1998 Toyota Tacoma is related to the air bags:frontal, with 30 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1998 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
The 1998 Toyota Tacoma has 358 complaints, 56 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1998 Toyota Tacoma problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1998 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
Yes, the 1998 Toyota Tacoma has 5 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Toyota Tacoma problems start?
Based on 139 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 139,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 150K+ mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 1998 Toyota Tacoma Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 358 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $1.20Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees